Arrested early Sunday morning for felony domestic violence at his San Jose home, McDonald’s status with the 49ers will be reviewed, both by the team and the NFL. On Thursday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell unveiled a harsher stance toward domestic-violence cases, especially those in which the victim is pregnant, as is the case with McDonald’s incident according to the Sacramento Bee.

The 49ers had no media access Monday and offered no further comment beyond Sunday’s statement from general manager Trent Baalke, who said the team takes “such matters seriously” and will “continue to gather the facts.”

The San Jose Police Department said Monday it will not release the 911 call – apparently from McDonald’s pregnant fiancée – that led to officers’ 2:48 a.m. arrival at his home.

San Jose police Sgt. Heather Randol said in an email: “Only the victim or victim’s representative is entitled to the tape.” The police report was not immediately available, Randol stating that it can only be obtained through a written request, which would take 10 days to process.

According to police-dispatch audio, obtained by ABC7 News, McDonald’s fiancée claimed he was “hitting her” and “was trying to pull her out of the house. She’s 10 weeks pregnant and refusing medical.”

McDonald’s court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 15, a day after the 49ers’ regular-season home opener against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium.

If McDonald, an eighth-year veteran, is barred from playing Sunday, third-year lineman Tony Jerod-Eddie likely would start at left defensive tackle, as was the case in three of four exhibitions last month while McDonald recovered from a hamstring strain. Jerod-Eddie started two games last year in place of McDonald, who had endured ankle and biceps injuries.

When the 49ers opened training camp a month ago, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio merely was bracing for the loss of Smith to a suspension and Bowman to knee rehabilitation.

“At times, it will be challenging,” Fangio said then. “Any time you lose two great players, somebody’s got to go in there and do the job. We don’t expect those guys to be as good as those two guys are — they’re at the top of their profession.

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“But we’ll find a way.”

McDonald has started all but three games over the past three seasons, and he’s accrued 16 ½ sacks over seven seasons, including a memorable one where he lost his helmet on a 2012 sack of the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady.

On Friday, USA Today reported that the 49ers restructured McDonald’s contract, likely by converting some of his $3.5 million base salary into a bonus and creating salary-cap space.

Excluding McDonald, the 49ers could open the season with only three starters in their front seven from last year’s NFC Championship game loss at Seattle: defensive tackle Justin Smith, linebacker Patrick Willis and outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Each of that threesome comes with concerns, albeit of the on-field variety.

Smith, who turns 35 on Wednesday, had offseason shoulder surgery. Willis is switching back to the “Jack” position after three years, and he’ll do so with Michael Wilhoite next to him instead of NaVorro Bowman. Brooks got called out last week by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio for being overweight.

Nose tackle Ian Wiliams is expected to return in the starting capacity he held before sustaining a fractured ankle last Sept. 15 at Seattle. Williams played only 16 snaps in the exhibition season.

Cam Inman

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Am I the only one who realizes that Ian Wiliams beat out Dorsey as the starter last year? Jeez… Oh, by the way, as a cop, I know for a fact that men get arrested without PC on DV incidents all the time. Every department has a policy like that..funny the the 4th amendment mentions nothing about arresting because a woman said she was hit…

FriscoSF

You’re right about Ian Williams beating out Dorsey….
But, lets see how well he performs after his injury
It was pretty severe

The 49ers do seem to have tremendous depth replacing all of those starters in the front 7 AND the back 4
An amazing turnover…..